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Fun Group Games for Kids

As I start a new school year in my classroom, one of the most important things I need to do is build trust and strong relationships amongst our group. There are a few ways to do this, but one of the best is to play group games. For whatever reason you need to keep children busy and happy, here are fun group games to play with kids.

1. Hula Relay

Race to be the first team to move your hula hoop all the way around your human chain without letting go of your friends’ hands. You have to work together to figure out the trick to this puzzle game. Full game details here.

2. Beach Ball Race

Build communication by having teams race back-to-back with a beach ball between them. Who can figure out the best walking rhythm? Source.

3. French -vs- English

Taking capture the flag a step further, French -vs- English will have teams trying to successfully retrieve up to 20 items from “enemy” grounds without getting tagged. Learn more here.

4. Spot the Difference

Just like the game in magazines where you compare two images and find the differences, Spot the Difference is the same game brought to life. Split your group into two or more teams. Have one team stand in front of the other while the opposing team gets two minutes to study the kids standing before them. Have the observing team leave for a minute while the observed change 10 things about their group appearance. Can the observers spot the 10 differences once they return? Source.

5. Mute Organization

This game will really put your non-verbal communication skills to the test! The objective is to get in a single file line in order of birthday. The challenge? The line has to be made without any verbal communication! Source.

6. Human Knot

After forming a circle and putting both hands in the middle, everyone closes their eyes and randomly grabs two other hands. Once eyes are open again, the group has to work together to figure out how to untangle their human knot. Source.

7. Oldie & Goldie

Don’t forget about the classic oldie and goldie games like Mother May I! It’s a bit like Simon Says but with more to it. Pick one child to act as “Mother/Father” giving instructions for how the rest of the children must make their way back to her/him. Mother can tell the group to take 5 baby steps toward her or that they must waddle like penguins, etc. The catch is that the other children can’t move until they’ve asked, “Mother, may I…”. Moving without permission means you head back to the start line. The first child back to Mother wins. What fun directions can you think of for Mother to give the others? Source.

8. Color Scavenger Hunt

Take your group on a color scavenger hunt where they must find objects in nature or in a public location that match a set of colors given to them before game play starts. This is a really fun game in the backyard for smaller children, or at the mall with older children. Setting ground rules for public courtesy is always a good idea before you start playing! Source.